Lurker needs help

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Lurker needs help
8
Thu, 07-12-2007 - 4:22pm
I mostly lurk here, but I now need some advice. My 13yo AS son has stopped eating!! He has never eaten well, but he has stopped eating other than about 2 bites at breakfast. He absolutely refuses to eat lunch or dinner. He now only weighs 74 pounds. He won't drink ensure or instant breakfast. I don't know what else to try...anyone have any ideas?
Jodi

Jodi

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 07-12-2007 - 6:35pm

Jodi,


welcome out of lurkdom.


I have to ask the obvious question, although I'm sure you have covered this already: Have you taken him to th edoctor to be checked out? An illness such as

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Thu, 07-12-2007 - 7:26pm
I'm going to let his doctor know tomorrow, I will be there with other DS. He's not acting any different other than not eating. He just tells me he is not hungry.

Jodi

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 3:14pm

Hi,
Please take him to a doc. to rule out any GI issues. Other than that the only thing that I can think of is adding enzymes to the one meal and see if that helps with all other. ALso add some good probiotics. Is he regular? IF not magnesium (with calcium) can help him.

good luck,
Anandhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 3:42pm
I took him with to the doc this morning. His doc wasn't concerned and said he will eat when he is hungry enough. I don't really agree with him because he has always had an issue with eating. He did suggest that I give him vitamins though.

Jodi

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 4:58pm

>>His doc wasn't concerned and said he will eat when he is hungry enough.<<


I'm sorry, but that is a total crock the doctor just handed you. It may be true of many

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 8:17pm

Although my ds is a HUGE over-eater (doesn't feel a "full" sensation, so is always hungry), he will NOT eat "if he's hungry enough" if his only options are food he does not think he can eat. We have tried this more than once in the past. He is not doing it to be willful but because he honestly doesn't believe he has a choice TO eat if the only options are things that are disagreeable to him. He truly doesn't see eating food he's disinterested in as a choice. I fully believe that he would starve himself to death before eating food he doesn't believe he can eat, so this is NOT a good marker for our AS kids.

My sister knew a mom of an older teen girl with sensory issues who STILL wouldn't eat almost anything. She'd walk around hungry all day wanting to eat something but couldn't find anything she believed she could eat. I don't know whether they ever found a solution, but it was a constant frustration to mom/teen 'cus she wasn't trying to not eat food, it's just that almost everything seemed inedible to her.

Has your ds indicated whether he finds food disagreeable or whether he just doesn't feel hungry so doesn't think he should eat, or what's holding him back from eating? Very obvious question, but has your ds offered any suggestions for helping himself? I liked Paula's idea of scheduled eating.

Sorry I don't have any ideas, but I did want to respond to the doc's comment about eating if he gets hungry enough. No, he most likely won't. You probably need to seek out a better doc &/or a nutritionist who can better guide you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Sat, 07-14-2007 - 8:21am
Your sisters friend sounds very much like my DS. He is known for saying he doesn't like anything. I try to cook only the foods that he likes but now that has gotten to be nothing. Literally. He definitely feels hungry, and he complains about it all the time, but just refuses to eat anything. I'm very concerned with the weight loss because he was too thin to begin with and now ALL of the bones in his chest are sticking out. I really don't want to change doctors, he's had the same doc since the day he was born.

Jodi

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sat, 07-14-2007 - 12:15pm
Just another thought. I wonder whether some sort of occupational therapy could help him? I'm not totally sure what they'd do that would help, but I'm wondering whether there is something available? Also, maybe a nutritionist could suggest ideas? I dunno. Fortunately as limited as my kids' diets are, at least there ARE things that they like and will fill up on, and they're getting better instead of worse. I'll ask my sister whether her friend's family ever found a solution for their dd.